What causes inconsistent contact and how do I fix it?

Understanding Inconsistent Contact in the Rotary Swing

As Riley "The Rotator," I specialize in unlocking explosive power through the rotary swing method, where speed explodes from aggressive body rotation and athletic hip drive. Inconsistent contact—fat shots, thin hits, or mishits off the toe or heel—robs you of that distance potential. It stems from breakdowns in sequencing, body-arm connection, and ground force reaction. In a true rotary swing, solid contact happens when your hands stay ahead of the clubhead through impact as rotation squares the face, but flaws disrupt this. Let's break down the main causes and proven fixes.

Common Causes of Inconsistent Contact

• Poor Alignment and Setup: If your body isn't aligned properly to the target, your swing path drifts, leading to toe or heel strikes. In rotary swings, inconsistent alignment exaggerates left-side misses like pulls or hooks.
• Disconnected Swing: Arms firing independently from the body core cause a "chicken wing" (lead elbow bending away at impact) or casting (early wrist uncocking), resulting in weak, off-center contact and power loss.
• Clubface Issues: A closed clubface at address or impact points left of target, causing pulls. Toe strikes often show on the clubface as ball marks there, signaling you need to stand closer to the ball.
• Weight Distribution and Sequencing Errors: Starting away from 50-50 weight distribution or failing to sequence hips first leads to "knee knockers" (excessive knee movement) and unstable base, producing fat or thin shots.
• Missing the Sweet Spot: Nicks or damage on the clubface compound issues, but even pristine faces suffer from poor path or angle control, killing distance and consistency.

Actionable Fixes for Solid, Consistent Contact

Fixes focus on rotary swing fundamentals: rebuild connection, enforce sequencing, and demand athletic rotation. Commit to these drills daily for flexibility and body awareness—rotary swings thrive on athleticism.

1. Perfect Your Grip and Setup

1. Adopt a neutral grip: V's pointing to right shoulder (for right-handers). This prevents closed clubface tendencies.
2. Align feet, hips, and shoulders parallel left of target. Use alignment sticks: one for feet, one for ball flight line.
3. Start with 50-50 weight distribution, ball off left heel for driver. Stand closer if toe marks appear on clubface.

2. Build a Connected Rotary Swing

1. Connection Drill: Place a glove under both armpits—keep it pinned through swing. This enforces arms-body sync, eliminating chicken wing and casting.
2. Rotation Sequencing: Feel hips fire first (like a baseball swing), shoulders following aggressively. Hands stay ahead through impact—rotate to square the face, not flip.
3. No-Cast Drill: Pause at top of short-to-medium backswing, then bump hips toward target before dropping arms. Builds lag for sweet-spot strikes.

3. Eliminate Sequencing Flaws and Build Stability

• Knee Knockers Fix: Practice "feet-together" swings—focus on hip rotation without knee sway. Progress to full stance with ground force push.
• Impact Bag Drill: Hit into bag with short irons, emphasizing forward shaft lean and rotation. Check clubface for centered contact marks.
• Flexibility Tune-Up: Daily hip and thoracic rotations (discus-thrower stretches) ensure explosive sequencing without compensation.

Equipment Check for Rotary Power

Inspect clubface for nicks—get them repaired or regripped for grip consistency. For distance-focused rotary players, drivers with adjustable weights (like TaylorMade Stealth 2 or Callaway Paradym) help optimize launch if contact improves.

Key Takeaway: Sequence for Power and Precision

Consistent contact in the rotary swing boils down to explosive rotation with connected, sequenced movement—hips lead, hands ahead, face squares through turn. Master these fixes, and you'll smash drives with pinpoint sweet-spot strikes, turning inconsistency into controllable power. Drill relentlessly, track your clubface marks, and watch distances soar.